i thought, let's check it out. >> didn't you have any doubts about ted olsen? >> you know, they say that politics makes strange bed fellows. you don't have a stranger bed fellow than me and ted olsen. >> i was skeptical. >> chad griffin was also at the polo lounge that day. he and rob reiner are old friends and political allies. they met when chad was just 19 and a press aide in the clinton white house. >> good morning, mr. president. >> how are you today? >> fine, thank you. >> he gave reiner the west wing tour when he was scouting for his film, "an american president." they decided griffin would be the one to mag the first uneasy call to olson. >> much to my surprise, it was an issue he had clearly thought a lot about. but the moment i hung up the phone, i realizes there was a chance i was talking to someone who overnight could become the most important, significant advocate for marriage equality that this movement has ever seen. >> we talked for a while on the television. and then he said, can i come and talk to you in your office in washington, d.c.? >> wer